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Harrison Facing Worst Tennis Nightmare in Mexico
17 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Scoop
Ryan Harrison had a wonderful 2017, rebuilding his career, achieving his career high ranking, winning a title in Memphis. Harrison started off well in 2018, reaching a final in Brisbane. But since January, Harrison has entered a mild slump.
Harrison lost in New York (as defending champ of Memphis) early to Ivo Karlovic 64 64. Then he lost early in Delray Beach to another big-serving giant, Reilly Opelka, 76 76.
Now, this week Harrison in Acapulco, has drawn another nightmare first round opponent – John Isner. Three, near seven foot serve monsters in three straight weeks. Could it get any worse for Harrison?
Isner leads the head to head with Harrison at 6-2, winning their last meeting in Atlanta last summer 76 76.
Isner is also in the midst of a slump himself, having only won two matches all year, versus Lajovic and Albot.
Harrison vs Isner is a very important match for both Americans, both seeking to turn around their 2018 seasons which are both headed in the wrong direction this month.
GameSetAndMath · February 27, 2018 at 12:12 am
Harrison will win against Isner. Isner is losing relevance fast (not that he was ever relevant outside NA).
Duke Carnoustie · February 27, 2018 at 2:16 am
Bad prediction Scoop. Harry thumped him.
Dan Markowitz · February 27, 2018 at 4:10 am
Izzie has to have the worst hands, the worst volleys of any pro player who ventures to the net as much as he does. He botched so many forehand volleys in this match he made Harry look like Bjorn Borg with his passing shots. Izzie is on a dangerous downward slope.
Now why do they have James Blake doing the announcing on Tennis Channel. I like James, but he cannot and will not criticize any American player or criticize is the wrong word, he can’t be critical of any American player.
scoopmalinowski · February 27, 2018 at 6:28 am
Actually i never predicted the outcome. Garrison escaped through a nightmare second set. Was down mini break but hung in there. Isner looks slower footed and less confident to grind like he used to do. Important, needed win for Harrison. Isner could be evolving now to journeyman irrelevant status.
Duke Carnoustie · February 27, 2018 at 10:42 am
Like I said, Isner is in trouble. He was very close to winning Paris Masters and reaching London – both major firsts. Instead he loses to Krajinovic and Sock becomes the United States’ pride and glory.
Had to be a blow emotionally for the Isman.
He knows he won’t have a better shot at reaching such heights. That said, look for him to make R16 or QF appearances in either IW or Miami once some of the stars drop out.
Chazz · February 27, 2018 at 11:05 am
I hope to watch Sock vs. Escobedo later today. If Sock can’t get back on track against a young American, the downward spiral continues. Also Nishikori vs. Shapovalov should be a really good match. Nishi is back on track after doing well in New York. Chung should handle Young pretty easily and then beat the winner of Sock-Escobedo in R2.
Duke Carnoustie · February 27, 2018 at 3:12 pm
Khachanov v. Pouille, round 2, is going to happen in Dubai. Can’t wait.
Duke Carnoustie · February 27, 2018 at 3:13 pm
How about Dimitrov going down in flames? He will never win a major, I m sad to say.
Sandgren got bageled in the first set but don’t count him out yet.
Duke Carnoustie · February 27, 2018 at 4:38 pm
OK time to count Sandgren out – at least for now. His South American adventure has come to an end. Hope he gets a huge ovation when he steps out onto the court at Indian Wells.
Chazz · February 27, 2018 at 9:26 pm
Sock looks uninterested and shows no fire. In my opinion he’s complacent now that he reached the top 10. That was a really poor showing against Escobedo. I don’t think Sock has played a good singles match this year.
dan markowitz · February 27, 2018 at 10:05 pm
I don’t know if Sock is disinterested or just not that good. When you lose to Opelka and Escobedo in back to back events, and then you have a ton of points to defend in IW and Miami, we’re looking for a quick exit from the top 20 from Sock. Bad day for Americans, Qball losing to Ebden and then of course the Izzie loss yesterday. Looks like Schwartzmann is going to rip through Verdasco which spells bad news for Harry. Diego is one player I would doubt Harry can touch.
Watched Gulbis match today in Dubai and the guy is still so intense and has flashes where he looks incredible and then he’ll have forehands that sailed well long and even his serve gets spotty. Still, I find him far more interesting to watch play than 99 per cent of the other players because of his intensity and the fact he can go from looking oh so Ernests to smiling his lips off. I’m rooting for a Gulbis comeback.
Duke Carnoustie · February 27, 2018 at 10:28 pm
Wow these are bad losses in terms of Querrey and Sock. DY played a tough first set then caved in mentally in the 2nd to Chung. Johnson should see the exit soon too unless Sascha melts down.
Methinks Cap’n Courier has a tough decision as to whether to go with the youngsters vs. Belgium in the final Davis Cup ever. Would love to see Tiafoe play Goffin in a pumped-up Nashville crowd.
Duke Carnoustie · February 27, 2018 at 11:18 pm
Johnson pulls out and Mack Mack takes his place.
It’s Mack tonight!
scoopmalinowski · February 28, 2018 at 6:22 am
Sock may have grown complacent after his big late 2017 and in just that lazy off season month the game passed him by. Is Sock paying the steep price now for his decision to focus on love over improving his tennis? Escobedo was outhitting Sock. Incredible display by Escobedo. Sock looks awful in that black pink horrid outfit and backward hat. Needs to change up the outfit and image to look like a tennis pro not a clown.
Dan Markowitz · February 28, 2018 at 8:35 am
I don’t want to say it, but who said last month that Sock was the worst Top 10 player I’ve ever seen. Sock’s better playing indoor winter events and exbo’s. I bet he plays great against Federer Monday night in San Jose.
Top two American male players now are Tiafoe and Fritz with JD and Escobedo coming on the outside with a sprinkle of Opelka.
Chazz · February 28, 2018 at 8:36 am
Escobedo is a baseline basher, I would like to see the stats comparing forehand speeds because he must be near the top. Sock couldn’t or didn’t want to deal with his pace.
Doug Day · March 1, 2018 at 7:58 am
Harry toughs it out against Diego. Great win against mini-mench who may have a variation on Dogopolov quick-serve motion.